The Catbird Seat

We went to the Florida Mall the other day to scope out stores for a Scavenger Hunt that we’re doing for the High Schoolers in our church. (Can I just say that it’s so fun making a Scavenger Hunt? Almost as fun as actually doing it! Who would’ve thought?)

Anyway, one of the stores in the mall is an M&M store. So cool.

Not surprisingly, at the entrance of the M&M store is the yellow peanut M&M man, waving to all the kids and posing for pictures.

Jane was SO excited to see the “candy”, live and in person.

She was also scared to death.

It was interesting to see the war between her excitement and curiosity and her fear.

Excitement/curiosity won.

But only when the reinforcements (Mommy’s safe arms) came in.

The first photo is the M&M man trying to get Jane to “Gimme Five.” I wish it was possible for a picture to show the tight grip she had on my arms. We’re talking WWF-level hold on me while the M&M man approached us. Hilarious.

This one is of us getting our picture made with the M&M man. Daddy is saying, “Say Cheese!” Jane is complying nicely by smiling her cheese at the M&M man. It took several tries before we could get her to stop smiling at him, instead of the camera.

The third photo is the final, and successful, attempt at getting Jane to look at Paul and smile for the camera. The only way we accomplished this amazing feat was to say, “Where’s Daddy?”, hence the pointing by Jane. Even then, I think it took work on her part NOT to look at the M&M man.

We reluctantly left “the Candy” with lots of well-wishes and goodbyes (”BYE, Candy! SEE YOU LATER, Candy! Have a GOOD DAY, Candy!” etc.) and headed back out into the mall.

Several minues later, we found ourselves again passing by the M&M store. Poor planning on our part, I might add.

This was Jane’s response to the realization we were, in fact, going to go past the M&M man again.

(at this point, you should imagine the loudest two-year-old voice you can; also think of super-exaggerated facial expressions like raised eyebrows, wide eyes, mouth forming a big “O” in between spoken phrases. Now imagine a small child pointing with not only her finger, but her whole body. Okay, now you’re ready.)

MOM IT’S THE CANDY!

Yep, it’s the M&M man again!

THE CANDY, MOM! IT’S the CANDY!

I see him, Jane.

MOM! WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT for the CANDY!

I will. He’s not gonna get us, though. He’ll stay right there in the store. (we were in the mall aisle)

WATCH OUT! WATCH OUT! MOM, WATCH OUT for the CANDY!

laughter. slight embarrassment as other adults in the mall stop and look at Jane, then laugh.

(seeing other people watching her) WATCH OUT, GUYS! WATCH OUT for THE CANDY! WATCH OUT, GUYS!

Okay. That’s enough, Jane.

MOM! IT’s THE CANDY!

I know. That’s enough. (we’ve now managed to keep walking, and are at least 3 stores past the M&M store.)

WATCH OUT!

She single-handedly warned everyone in earshot about “The CANDY” down the corrider of the mall. Paul and I just shook our heads and laughed.

Who knew the M&M man was such a danger to the unsuspecting shoppers at the Florida Mall?

Filed under: General, Catbird, Local Color, SAHM, Jane on June 23rd, 2006